President's Letter

strategic Planning is now a priority of the Illinois State Historical Society. The planning process is just underway with a review of the Society's mission statement, its constitution and by-laws, and reports from previous planning efforts. One phase of planning is a review of how our group came to be what it is.

The Society was chartered in 1900 and a three-member board of directors established. Its stated purposes were "to excite and stimulate a general interest in the history of Illinois; to encourage historical research and investigation and secure its promulgation; to coliect and preserve all forms of historical data in any way connected with Illinois and its people." Over the years, these three purposes were manifested primarily in the Society's markers program, its scholarly publications, and its statutory role as a support group to the Illinois State Historical Library. Its earliest publication was the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, now in its 96th year.

The current statement as written into our Constitution in 1999 is significantly different only in the third purpose: "and to assist the Illinois State Historical Library, other divisions of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and other organizations and repositories in collecting and preserving all data relating to the history of the state and its people." The reference to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) reflects the fact that the Library, along with the Society, came under the jurisdiction of the IHPA, which Governor Thompson created by Executive Order in 1985.

In 1998, however, the Society's Board of Directors decided the time had come to be free standing and officially broke with state government. The Society had then, and continues to have, the resources to carry on because of its sizable bequests, an experienced staff, and a 15-member Board of Directors and others willing to volunteer their time and talent to the Society's programs.

Just before the break, the Society adopted a mission statement. This 1997 statement is not closely tied to the 1900 statement of purposes and reflects the actual work the Society has undertaken over the past several decades. The statement cites specific activities: conferences, publications, awards, educational programs, consulting services, and related historical programs, such as markers. In fact, the Society's activities today focus heavily on a variety of award and publication programs developed piecemeal over the years.

According to this 1997 mission statement, the Society envisions itself as furthering the programs of local historical societies and local historians by serving as a statewide service organization and communication network. It seeks to cooperate with the IHPA and other organizations as well as individuals in promoting interest in history. Although the Society has not functioned as a library, archive, historical site, or museum, these are the kinds of organizations the Society is interested in working with to promote history.

Of course, most of what we are doing we will continue to do. Yet developing, carrying out, and periodically revising a strategic plan will contribute significantly to the future success and stability of the Society. It will aid in determining what activities to cut back, if necessary, and, as new resources become available, what activities to expand and what new ones to develop. It is vital to have such a plan in appealing for grants from foundations and other funders. It is helpful in the orientation of new directors and advisory board members, in the allocation of staff time on a day-to-day basis, in the continuing development of the Board of Directors in policy setting and program evaluation, and in defining the Society's relationship with the IHPA and other outside entities.

It will be the Board of Directors that will eventually adopt a Strategic Plan. Vital in the plan development will be the Executive Director and his staff, the chairs and members of each of the Society's many committees, and people outside the Society in affinity groups at the state and local level. In the process, the Board and its executive committee also want to involve other Society members and so we welcome comments from all our readers as the development of the plan proceeds.

David W. Scott
June 2003